If you don’t already know, and I serious doubt you don’t, The Wolf Of Wall Street is the new Martin Scorsese film – based on Jordan Belfort’s memoir of the same name – featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Mr. Belfort. Belfort is a corrupt but enigmatic American stockbroker with a pathological urge for excess in all things naughty: money, power, women, alcohol and every imaginable drug. In fact, Belfort declares in the opening voiceover that money is the biggest drug of all.

Basically, the film charts his rise from ‘struggling underachiever’ to ‘big shot hedonistic rich dude’ with highly questionable morals and how he eventually comes under investigation by FBI Agent Patrick Denham (played by Kyle Chandler) for his massively illegal financial activities. I don’t want to give away any more plot details, as you really need to see this film unfold scene by scene, and I would hate to spoil anything.

All I really want to say is that this film is superb. Is it misogynistic and does it sort of glorify greed and deception? Yes. Does it matter? No. Why? Because it is supposed to portray what happened in Belfort’s life. And within 20 seconds of the film starting you can already tell it’s going to be a classic. The moment Leonardo starts his voiceover – you’re hooked. And Leonardo is spellbinding. He deserves an Oscar. No questions. (And I have even struggled to warm to most of his adult acting career so far– it’s as if he’s finally arrived!)

Another delightful surprise is Jonah Hill. The scenes he and Leonardo share are priceless – especially the scene involving the old-prescription Qualuudes with a longer kick-in time than the ones currently on the market. (You’ll know what I mean when you see it!) The excess is just so ridiculous it’s mesmerising…and the comedy – the dark, black comedy – is laugh out loud hilarious. Oh yes, and Matthew ‘I’m suddenly a great actor in great films’ McConaughey’s brief appearance is also gas! Hurray! GO SEE THIS FILM IMMEDIATELY!!! My film of the year already!!

The Wolf of Wall Street goes on general release Friday, January 17th.

Matthew Barks